- Gombe State Governor Sends Goodwill Message
FORMER Deputy National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Alhassan Yahya, has emerged the new National President of the union.
Yahya polled 436 votes to defeat two other candidates at the Eighth Triennial Delegates’ Conference of the union held between Wednesday and Thursday in Owerri.
He was announced winner in the early hours of Thursday by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mike Ikeogwu.
The other contestants for the position of the president, Bamidele Atunbi and Garba Mohammed, polled 97 votes and 39 votes to come second and third, respectively.
Declaring the result, Ikeogwu said: “By the powers vested in me as the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, I hereby declare that Alhassan Yahya, having polled the highest number of votes, is returned as President of the NUJ for the next three years.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yahya, who works with the Gombe Media Corporation, is the first NUJ President of North-East extraction.
In an acceptance speech, he pledged to serve “humbly and with the fear of God” as well as to “uphold the Constitution of the NUJ with all fairness, equity and justice”.
He succeeded Chief Chris Isuguzo from the South-East, who served out two tenures of six years.
The new Deputy National President, Abimbola Oyetunde, who is the General Manager, Radio Nigeria Bronze FM, Edo, was returned unopposed at the conference.
By her election, Oyetunde, a former member of the Board of Trustees of the union, emerged the first female deputy national president of NUJ.
Other national officers, who were returned unopposed included the National Treasurer, Victor Ndukwe (former Abia Council Chairman), and Ronke Samo, the Vice President of B-Zone (Southwest).
Also elected unopposed was Eze Adiukwu, the Zonal Secretary (South-East) of the union. (NAN)
Meanwhile, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has congratulated Yahya on his election as NUJ President.
Yahaya, in a congratulatory message issued to newsmen on Thursday in Gombe, expressed joy over Yahya’s ‘resounding victory’ at the just-concluded 8th Triennial Delegates’ Conference in Owerri, Imo.
The governor, in the statement signed by his media aide, Mr Ismaila Uba-Misilli, described Yahya’s victory as a remarkable achievement and source of immense pride for the state and the entire journalism community.
He praised Yahya’s journey and impressive rise in the NUJ leadership. “From your humble beginning at the chapel level, to the state, zonal and now the national level, you have showed consistency, demonstrated unmatched courage, integrity and passion for journalism and the welfare of journalists.
“Your election as the national president of NUJ is a reflection of the trust journalists across Nigeria have in your capacity to lead.
“Your commitment, integrity and vision have made you a shining example of what it means to be a leader in the field of journalism and I commend you for these sterling attributes,” he said.
Yahaya, while expressing confidence in Alhassan’s ability to unite and lead the union toward progress and professionalism, assured him of the support, solidarity and goodwill of the government and people of the state.
“We are confident that under your leadership, NUJ will witness a new era of progress, unity and professionalism that will further elevate the role of journalism in promoting national development,” he said.
The governor acknowledged the vital role of a united and committed press in advancing democratic ideals and national development.
He also praised journalists for the peaceful conduct of the election, while wishing the new NUJ leadership a successful and impactful tenure. (NAN)
